Ukrainian Military Accuses Russia of Striking Civilians in Kursk Region

In the city of Sudzha, located in the Kursk region, a boarding school building collapsed following a missile strike. According to Ukrainian sources, there were dozens of elderly people inside. It is confirmed that more than 90 people may still be trapped under the rubble, yet there is no official response from the Russian authorities as of now, reports NewsBox. 

The Ukrainian military command in the occupied part of the Kursk region reported that on February 1, 2025, at 17:54 local time, an aerial strike was carried out on the boarding school in Sudzha. According to the command's press officer, Aleksey Dmitrashkovsky, approximately one hundred people were in the building, most of whom were elderly or had limited mobility. Military command units are currently conducting search and rescue operations. Cries and groans can be heard from beneath the debris, though the number of casualties remains unclear.

Dmitrashkovsky asserted that Russian forces targeted the building, which housed a large number of civilians. According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, people were preparing for evacuation, and it was purportedly known to the Russian side that no military personnel were present in the boarding school. Moreover, the General Staff's statement claims that a guided bomb might have been used in the strike. As evidence, they note the timing of the attack coincided with rocket alert signals received in the area.

Independent verifications of the incident are lacking amid ongoing conflict. Meanwhile, journalists from DW (classified as a ‘foreign agent’ in Russia) cite local activist Vladimir Sinelnikov, who reports about 94 people under the debris. Russian pro-war channels mention a possible missile launch from the Ukrainian side in the Sumy region, but the Russian Ministry of Defense has yet to issue an official statement regarding the situation in Sudzha.

The Ukrainian command in Sudzha has previously reported incidents where, according to their data, peaceful residents were killed by strikes from Russian forces in occupied territories. It remains uncertain whether debris can be cleared promptly and the exact number of affected individuals determined.